Art Therapy Commons^™

Integrating Art Therapy And Emerging Technologies For Enhanced Neuroplasticity And Ptsd Intervention, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains resistant to many conventional treatments, underscoring the need for integrative approaches that harness neuroplasticity. Art therapy, with its capacity to facilitate nonverbal trauma processing and multisensory engagement, has shown distinctive advantages over verbal and pharmacological interventions. Recent innovations, including virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and biofeedback have amplified the therapeutic efficacy of art-based interventions by enabling adaptive, real-time modulation of emotional and physiological states. This review synthesizes current research on technologically enhanced art therapy, comparing it to established treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Findings indicate …

Use Cases For Art Therapy Intervention In Clinical Psychedelic Praxis, Kaitlin Maud

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Psychedelic medicine has existed for thousands of years as a traditional, sacred practice and is now in varying stages of legalization for clinical application in the United States. Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy uses specific psychoactive substances to facilitate altered states of consciousness in which clients have access to unconscious material and there is a greater cognitive openness to new perspectives and possibilities. Art Therapy is a modality of psychotherapy with decades of data to support its clinical efficacy in treating mental illness and other chronic conditions. A review of the literature shows a range of use cases for art in the context …

Making The Invisible Visible: Intersectional Perspectives Of Artist Identity And Multiple Sclerosis In The Us Healthcare System, Anna Liza De Leon Evangelista, Chloé Welmond, Emily Rose, Jennifer Gutierrez, Kelly Sheridan, Madeleine Brown, Marissa Barajas, Rowena Luminarias, Nancy Choe

LMU Theses and Dissertations

The intersection of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), systemic healthcare disparities, and art-making remains underexplored within the arts and health literature. While research often highlights the therapeutic benefits of creative expression, it rarely examines how art-making empowers individuals with MS. This study addresses this gap by exploring: (1) how MS influences participants’ art practice, (2) how art impacts the participants’ experiences of MS, and (3) how individuals navigate the United States healthcare system. The research centers on women and gender expansive individuals and takes an intersectional lens to better understand marginalized experiences of those living with MS. These underrepresented groups frequently encounter …

Art Therapists’ Perspectives On Exploring Sexuality In Treatment Sessions, Daniel Blausey

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study examined the relationships between U.S. based graduate-level art therapists’ (N = 174) personal and professional characteristics and their decisions to explore sexuality in sessions. A mixed-methods concurrent design generated quantitative and qualitative data through a one-time anonymous internet study centering on two clinical case vignettes. One vignette highlighted gender nonconformity, the other the sexualization of the therapist. Comparison of years of art therapy experience for two groups, those who interacted with one vignette before exiting and those who interacted with both found the group that rated both vignettes had more years of AT experience (M = …

Art And Design As Tools For Memory Care Navigation And Connection Building, Vidhi Mishra, Muskan Malik, Rhea P. Nawaz, Erin E. Partridge

Art Therapy | Project Reports

Memory care environments present unique challenges for residents experiencing cognitive decline. This white paper explores the role of art-centered design and innovative UX research to develop tools that enhance navigation autonomy and foster social connections. The proposed solutions prioritize resident well-being while offering scalable frameworks for implementation across senior living communities.

Mixed Methods Study On The Impact Of Coloring Mandalas On Emotional Regulation, Mindfulness, And Attachment Style In Adults, Rachel N. Faas

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Abstract
This mixed methods study investigates the impact of coloring pre-drawn mandalas on adult emotional regulation, mindfulness, and state attachment style. Drawing from Attachment Theory and Art Therapy frameworks, the research evaluates whether adult coloring interventions—specifically structured mandala designs—can serve as accessible tools for improving psychological well-being. A sample of adult participants engaged in a mandala coloring intervention and completed pre- and post-assessments measuring emotional regulation, mindfulness, and attachment style, including qualitative interviews to capture subjective experiences. Results suggest that mandala coloring may promote increased mindfulness and adaptive emotional regulation strategies, with preliminary evidence indicating shifts toward more secure attachment …

Animation As Therapy For Mental Health Treatment Across Diverse Populations And Contexts, A Literature Review, Daneile Tabana

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Scientific research has explored and identified the beneficial relationship between health and creative expression, recognizing art therapy as a source of healing. Animation has been newly recognized as an art therapy medium with potential for therapeutic healing and increased psychological well-being. This review of the literature on animation therapy explores the history of the modality’s interaction with the population observed and the effects of animation on the cognitive processes, discusses current theoretical orientations and treatment options for treating a range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior with animation therapy, and considers culturally informed and client-centered practices alongside traditional …

Communication Beyond Words, Anna Brough

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

This research explores the definition and use of nonverbal communication within the therapeutic setting and the treatment of selective mutism by clinical providers. A phenomenological research method was used to interview three art therapists and two therapists without art therapy training. These interviews were used to explore their understanding and awareness of nonverbal communication within the context of providing treatment to clients with selective mutism. The analysis of participants’ discussions of their experiences of treating those with selective mutism revealed four major themes: Nonverbal Communication, Therapeutic Presence and Alliance, Art Materials and Interventions, and Culture and Society. Findings suggest no …

Intuition And Insight In Art Therapy, Samantha Mach

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

The main goal of this research is to explore the unconscious phenomena of Intuition and Insight in art therapy. I define Intuition as knowledge that has been there all along and Insight as an inner sense of knowing and a space of no-thought. It is my belief that these unconscious processes lay at the heart of art and art-making and may therefore strengthen the therapeutic process. In order to investigate this hypothesis, I turned to the phenomenological analysis of qualitative interviews and found that seven themes emerged from the data collected: Prologue, Untethered, Interrelatedness, Deliverance, Concede, Divulge, Art as Allied, …

Art-Based Autoethnographic Study Of A Senior Professional Woman Of Color's Journey, Raceal Mcwhorter

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

This proposed dissertation study is a visual autoethnographic qualitative study of the recalled lived experiences of a senior woman of color's journey to become a spiritual art therapist professional during the 20th to 21st Century in the United States of America. This study interprets the memories of events in my lifetime, looking back through the lens of a spiritual mental health art therapist practitioner. The adverse effects of the legacy and enforcement of silence on women and black people. I hope that by describing my lived experiences and felt sense -- and illustrating my arduous journey to overcome societal racism, …

Online Friendships And The Bird’S Nest Drawing In The Age Of The Internet, Ian Wong

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study was a qualitative exploration of friendships facilitated through the internet and online video games. The goal was to investigate how online friendships compare to in-person friendships in terms of quality. Three English-speaking participants who played an online video game and had an online friendship provided unique case studies describing the differences between an online and in-person friendship. The Bird Nest Drawing art assessment by Kaiser (1996; 2016) revealed themes of attachment security which helped explain the variations in the friendships. The findings of this study opened the topic of online friendships for further exploration in the field of …

Mindfulness And Self-Compassion: Attuning Skills In Self-Awareness To Promote Self-Care For Art Therapy Practitioners A Mixed-Methods Study Using A Mandala Art Directive And Acceptance Commitment Therapy (Act), Janeth Arcila Padilla

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study attempts to examine people in the mental health field, specifically, Art Therapists and graduate trainees who undergo many stressors in and out of the therapy space. Stressors like emotionally demanding situations with clients, to the demands of keeping up with proper work-related procedures, and needed educational requirements for practicing in the field can lead to burnout for practitioners and students in the field. Stress, burnout, and professional impairment are prevalent among mental health professionals and can have a negative impact on their clinical work, while engagement in self-care can help promote therapist well-being (Posluns & Gall, 2020). Research …

Mental Health Stigma And Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Eastern Asian/Eastern Asian American College Students And Their Parents: A Mix-Method And Art Therapy Intervention Study, Carmen Tham

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This mixed-methods study examines perceptions of mental health within the Eastern Asian/Eastern Asian American community through quantitative analysis of the Asian American Value Scale (AAVS) and qualitative examination of Tree of Life artwork, alongside responses from a Mental Health Help-Seeking Interview Guide. Ten Chinese participants, comprising five students and five parents, participated, with varying generational statuses and educational backgrounds. Quantitative findings reveal significant differences in AAVS scores based on generational status and education level, with first/second-generation respondents scoring higher on family recognition through achievement and university-educated respondents scoring higher on conformity to norms. Qualitative analysis identifies common themes of rarity …

Group Art Therapy With Resilience-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy For Female North Korean Defectors In The United States, Yuri Kim

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study engages in phenomenological qualitative research, focusing on three North Korean defectors residing in the United States. The research comprised six sessions, each lasting ninety minutes. These sessions involved the active participation of the subjects in six face-to-face group art therapy (AT) sessions, adhering to the six guidelines outlined in the Amita Treatment Framework (ATF). These sessions encompassed the following components: 1) analyzing self-image; 2) finding positive qualities; 3) identifying challenges; 4) behaviors driven by emotions in challenging situations; 5) reframing challenges; and 6) reconstructing self-image and goal setting.

Results from the study revealed phenomenological insights into the participants' …

A Modified Dbt-Informed Art Therapy Group Curriculum With A Focus On Neurodiversity Acceptance, Megan Moyer

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

Historically, therapy methods made to support neurodivergent individuals have been focused on reducing “challenge behaviors” and modifying behavior to societal standards. Simultaneously, many behavior modification therapies neglect the emotional well-being of the individual. As neurodiversity grows to be accepted as an aspect of diversity, so too must therapy methods change to promote skill building in line with the cultural values and strengths of neurodivergent individuals and promote social-emotional well-being. This group therapy curriculum poses as one such possibility to this change by utilizing DBT and Art Therapy in a group psychoeducation format.

Art And Rehabilitation: An Analysis Of Art In The Treatment Of Individuals Recovering From Substance Use Disorders, Cheyenne Weis

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Substance use has been a huge problem in the United States for a long time. Typically, techniques such as behavioral therapies or 12-Step Programs are used regarding treatment for those trying to recover from substance use disorders. While these treatment options are useful for many people, it is also important to look at nonnormative options for treatment to help the greatest number of people. One of these treatment options is the use of art, either as art therapy or as therapeutic art-making. Previous research on art therapy and people with substance use disorders demonstrates that there are many benefits of …

In-Between Space: Latinas Sharing Their Stories Of Cultural Integration, Maria Elena Fuster

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores how an art-based narrative allows Latinas to explore their own experiences of cultural integration in a way that honors their lived experience. The women used art materials to help them explore their identities and, through this process, discovered new truths about themselves through their stories of living between, within, and outside of both cultures. The art acted as a catalyst to express feelings the women had never before questioned or recognized in themselves and, in doing so, allowed them to create meaning and discover parts of their identities they had never explored before. This further allowed the …

Cultural Identity Of And Implications For Later Generational Hispanic And Latino Populations In The United States, Tara Bustamante

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study explores the Hispanic and Latino/x/e cultures within the United States, with a particular focus on the concept of identity within these communities and its implications for third and later generations. Data were collected during the pandemic via an online survey and art directive. The student researcher used the Identity Denial Scale (Albuja et al., 2019) to measure how often the participants’ identity is denied within the United States and then used an art therapy prompt to invite participants to create their own self-portrait in conjunction with their authentic self and self-image. Qualitative data were also used in response …

Evoking The Art Of Nature, Tessa R. Evans Keime

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This international study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of nature-based art therapy, an innovative approach that combines artmaking with the healing power of nature. The research aimed to examine the synergistic effects of nature and artmaking, as well as the impact of the eco-art experience on adult individuals' connectedness to nature, emotional well-being, and existential understanding, while addressing gaps in literature.

Employing an arts-based research design, participants took part in a nature-art-making session, and their experiences were evaluated through pre- and post-art questionnaires, as well as an analysis of their artistic creations by trained inter-raters. The nature art-based experience …

Exploring Whether A Collage Art Intervention Enhances Levels Of Resilience In Asian Americans Who Have Experienced Emotional Suppression, Casey Galaura

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Emerging research has shown cross-cultural differences when coping with negative emotions (Yoshie & Sauter, 2020). The Asian American population uniquely experiences both western and eastern cultures, which have different ideologies around expressing negative emotions. In Eastern Cultures, it is common to suppress negative emotions, while Western cultures find it more accepting. Suppressing emotions is a form of emotional dysregulation and can cause a negative effect on one’s psychopathology. This mix-methods study explores whether collage art-based intervention enhances levels of resilience with Asian Americans who have experienced emotional suppression. The theoretical orientation, Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), was used as a guide …

A Review Of The Effectiveness, Feasibility, And Acceptability Of Art Therapy For Children And Adolescents During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Minh Ngoc Le Vu, Anh Linh Do, Laurent Boyer, Quy Chi Tran, Stefan Kohler, Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed, Andreea Molnar, Tung Son Vu, Nhan Trong Huynh Vo, Linh Mai Vu Nguyen, Linh Gia Vu, Vu Anh Trong Dam, Thomy Duong, Dan Linh Nguyen Do, Ngoc Minh Do, Roger S Mclntyre, Carl Latkin, Roger Chun Man Ho, Cyrus Su Hui Ho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Art therapy has been widely offered to reduce symptoms of psychological disturbance. Pooled evidence about its effectiveness in epidemic contexts, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has not been yet established. This study reviewed the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of art therapy on children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and past epidemics. We searched PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, CENTRAL (Cochrane Library), and CINAHL for articles on art therapy during COVID-19. Included studies reported improvements in measures of mental health, sleep quality, and psychological well-being in children with or without disabilities in the epidemic context. Results also showed that art therapy was highly …

Phototherapy And Empowerment For People Living With Chronic Conditions, Lauren St John

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

An exploration of combining empowerment theory, photo-based art interventions, and hope-based interventions in a group setting and whether this method can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety and increase feelings of hope, power, and empowerment for those living with chronic conditions and chronic pain. The reviewed literature showed that hope-based art interventions, photo-based art interventions, and empowerment can increase feelings of hope and empowerment and decrease levels of depression and anxiety in people living with chronic conditions. I created a method that combined all three interventions in a group therapy setting where the participants completed the artwork between sessions and …

Illuminating The Increase Of Intentional Dating In The Covid-19 Pandemic And Its Connection To Relationship Satisfaction Through The Lens Of Photography., Caitlin Carnegie

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

In this study, the researcher examined if the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted individuals to reprioritize their emotional needs in intimate relationships. As a result of reprioritizing intimate relationship needs, the researcher also examined whether intentional dating increased within an individual. Furthermore, the researcher explored the use of photography to illuminate an individual's relationship satisfaction and motivation for dating. Asking these questions can help to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted intimate dating relationships and how dating trends may have shifted. It further explores how photography can also be used as a research tool as well as a …

Arts In Mind: A Multidisciplinary Approach To Museum Programs For Persons Living With Young-Onset And Early-Stage Alzheimer’S Disease, Rachel Thompson, Angel Duncan, Jessica Sack

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

This paper reflects on Arts in Mind, an ongoing museum-based program for those with Young-onset Alzheimer’s or in the early stages of memory loss. Co- developed in 2019 by the authors, an art therapist with experience in Alzheimer’s clinical trials research and two museum educators. Arts in Mind is a monthly program that invites people living with Young-onset Alzheimer’s and their care partners to look at and make art together. Arts in Mind responds to a previously unmet need for programming specifically designed for the Young-onset Alzheimer’s population and individuals in early stages of the disease. Sessions are anchored in …

Cultural Humility Art-Based Training In The Helping Professions, Tara Al-Taan, Silvia Figueroa, Elizabeth Park, Beverly Pascua, Sachi Sosna, Serap Spaltro, Allison Sweeney

LMU Theses and Dissertations

There has been a lack of training and implementation of cultural humility in the helping professions. Clinician’s awareness of their own biases, assumptions, and cultural identities is critical when working with individuals who each have their own array of cultural identities. The following research examined the efficacy of cultural humility art-based training courses through surveys and examining the art experiential activity that was provided. The purpose of this research was to determine whether cultural humility art-based training would effectively increase mental health practitioners’ comfort, ability, and confidence in addressing culturally sensitive issues in their clinical work. The training focused on …

Art Making To Inform Dialogue Across Spiritual Otherness In The Therapeutic Space, Caitlin Brosious, Emma Burgin, Andrea Dyer, Maggie Knobbe

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This research was a preliminary pilot study meant to encourage further exploration on the intersection of art therapy, art making, spirituality, and dialogue. This study topic is an important area of investigation due to the long-standing challenges of interfaith dialogue, both historically and currently. An abundance of reviewed literature linking interfaith dialogue and dialogue through art making guided the research hypothesis, which states that the act of viewing and being viewed by the spiritual other through art making could deepen one’s own spiritual practice, increase empathy, foster dialogue, and inform clinical work as psychotherapists. To explore this, the researchers held …

Effects Of Art Therapy On Dissociation Related To A Veteran’S Experience With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Camacho Ronald

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This paper depicts a U.S. veteran and graduate student’s experience using meditation, artmaking, and journaling to target the effects of trauma and its symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociation. This is a self-study utilizing art as the main method for communication and knowing. The data was gathered by using a combination of Pat Allen’s Open Studio Process and elements of the Art Therapy Trauma Protocol using bilateral artmaking in a five-session process conducted in a local art studio in San Diego. The meditation was conducted as a contemplative practice with attention and intention focusing on traumatic experiences. Fragmented memories …

The Sensory And Haptic Nature Of Art Therapy Materials With Young Children Ages 0-5yrs Old Of Complex Trauma, Sarah Duncan

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This survey study with an art response aims to further understand how the sensory and haptic nature of art therapy materials can aid in healing within the therapeutic process. Specifically, it will explore young children, ages 0-5yrs old, of complex trauma and how they respond to art materials within the therapeutic process. Surveys were distributed to mental health therapists working with the 0-5 year old population in order to gather baseline information about how young children who have experienced trauma, respond to methods of interventions, including art materials. Through analysis of the participants’ survey responses and artwork, emergent themes revealed …

“I Am Not Deaf”: Art-Based Participatory Action Research With Refugee Women From Burma, Hillary Rubesin

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

There are currently over 65 million displaced people across the world. Refugee women present a unique subset of those displaced. These women often struggle with “triple trauma,” but these complex issues can go unvoiced and unaddressed as the women work to hold their families together in the midst of shifting landscapes and shifting gender roles and cultural norms. The following study demonstrates how the arts can offer refugee women an opportunity to express themselves and process complex issues in effective, creative, accessible, therapeutic, and cross-cultural ways. It details the process and explores the impact of an art-based participatory action research …

Exploring An Expressive Arts Protocol In The Recovery Of Substance Use Disorders In An Intensive Outpatient Program, Joie De Bostock

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Approaches in treatment of chemical dependency have focused primarily on psychoeducation in group therapy, with limited research involving expressive therapies. Literature has shown benefit in the use of expressive arts for those in mental health treatment, with a limited amount of research on expressive arts in the treatment of substance abuse disorders (SUDs), though it is uncommon for individuals in chemical dependency treatment to receive therapy in any expressive modality. This may be due to several factors, such as resources for supplies or limitations in funding, however, an outlet of expression could benefit this population and contribute to successful recovery …